The influence of Indian women in architecture & design

The influence of Indian women in architecture & design

"Womens are the

architects

of the society"

It is a statement, but a widely accepted fact as well. For ages women have lived in the shadow of men, quietly doing their jobs to the best of their ability, holding everything together… whether it is a family or a society or a country itself, the woman is the one who forms the inner strength of every unit.

The determination women have to rise above adversities to prove their mettle is what makes them true ideals. The motto with which women seem to work is: “The task ahead of you is never greater than the strength within you.” They’re always up for a challenge, never backing down. The resolve with which they approach an issue can only be compared to the strength of steel… unyielding.

If women can be proverbial architects of the society, is building architecture too big of a task for them?

All are shining examples of women proving building architecture is not a man’s world anymore, women have not only forayed into it but are excelling in the space.

There are very few countries in the world where architecture has such varied styles and influences as there are in India. We must be proud to have such a rich history that has continuously evolved. And women have been a big part of that evolution; they have made a big impact on architecture. It hasn’t been easy for them but they have broken ranks and built wonders. In the recent past, Eulie Chowdhury, Brinda Somaya, Shela Sri Prakash, Shimul Javeri Kadri, and many, many more have not just built structures for other but their work has been so solid that they have built their own empires on their ability. The knowledge with which they build, their understanding of history, location, context and materials has surpassed expectations.

If we go back in history a little bit to trace the arrival of women into architecture, we find a number of enterprising strong women who have left indelible impression on Indian architecture. From Itmad Ud Daula in Agra to Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal and many more in between, were designed and built by women.

One of the most outstanding ones among them is the Mirjan Fort in Kumta, Karnataka. Located on the banks of river Aganashini, this fort, built in 16th century, has one of the strongest protections any fort has ever seen, enclosed by a double layer of high walls and tall bastions, with intricate entries, exits and navigation. Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gersoppa designed and built the fort with the help of her allies. The fort was built as a protection for her and her kingdom from invaders. She was also kind enough to offer refuge to a number of artisans fleeing from wars in distant land.

It is not a surprise that a woman was the architect of such a strong yet beautiful structure, which stands robust without much of a revision even today. The most basic instinct of a woman is protection; she protects everything and everyone dear to her from any harm. She will turn into a wall of steel to stand in front of adversities to drive them away.

It is this attribute of women that Sunvik Steel borrows from. It is their indomitable ability to protect & defend; the strength of character that they bring to their personality to rise above adversities is what Sunvik TMT represents. Like women, Sunvik TMT is built on inner strength that may bend to the force of strong wind but will find a way to stand upright when the storm calms down.

Since 8th of March is Women’s Day, it is only appropriate that we dedicate the whole month of March to pay tribute to their achievements in different fields and celebrate their inner strength.

Visit our Facebook page and YouTube channel to see more faces, more courage and more grit.